Ohio EPA Awards $2.8M for Public Water System Improvements
Summary
The Ohio EPA is awarding over $2.8 million to 122 public water systems across 58 counties. These funds, sourced from the U.S. EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, will support critical improvements such as emergency generators and water quality enhancements to ensure safe and reliable drinking water for Ohio residents.
What changed
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has announced the distribution of over $2.8 million in grants to 122 public water systems located in 58 Ohio counties. These grants are funded through the U.S. EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and are designated for essential projects including the installation of emergency generators, condition assessments, source water protection strategies, and well abandonment. Thirty-eight systems received $1.28 million specifically for emergency generators, while approximately $1.6 million was allocated for other water quality improvement initiatives.
While this is an announcement of awarded funds rather than a new regulatory requirement, public water systems receiving these grants should ensure compliance with the terms of their specific grant agreements. The funds are intended to help these systems maintain service, protect water sources, and ensure the provision of safe and reliable drinking water. The Ohio EPA's initiative aims to bolster the infrastructure and operational capabilities of local water systems, ultimately benefiting Ohio families by enhancing the safety and reliability of their drinking water supply.
Source document (simplified)
March 26, 2026
COLUMBUS, OH (March 26, 2026) – Ohio EPA is awarding more than $2.8 million to 122 public water systems in 58 counties to support critical improvements that will help ensure safe, reliable drinking water for Ohio families.
These grants, which are funded through U. S. EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Capitalization Grants, will help public water systems maintain a continuous supply of safe drinking water, strengthen the protection of the water source, properly close inactive wells, and invest in emergency generators.
“Being able to offer this funding to more than 120 water systems across the state is the definition of a win-win,” Ohio Director John Logue said. “It helps these systems to have the capability of enhancing what they do and how they do it at no extra cost to them – but, more importantly, it helps Ohio families have access to more reliable, safer, healthier drinking water.”
Ohio EPA prioritized emergency generator projects to help water systems maintain service and protect the water supply during power outages. The grants will reimburse systems for the initial costs of generators and necessary accessories. Thirty-eight systems were awarded $1.28 million for emergency generators.
Approximately $1.6 million has been awarded for additional water quality improvement projects.
- Condition Assessment Program: Helps small community public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide water by contracting with a third party to develop their asset management program.
- Source Water Assessment Protective Strategies: Supports the implementation of strategies to safeguard source water for community public water systems.
- Well Abandonment: Assists with the costs of properly abandoning inactive public water system wells. The $2.8 million being awarded is going to public water systems in these 58 counties:
Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula (3 projects), Athens, Belmont, Butler (3 projects), Champaign, Clark (2 projects), Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton (3 projects), Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Fairfield (2 projects), Fayette (4 projects), Franklin (2 projects), Fulton (2 projects), Gallia (2 projects), Geauga (6 projects), Greene (3 projects), Hamilton, Hardin (2 projects), Harrison, Hocking, Holmes (2 projects), Jackson, Jefferson (5 projects), Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lucas (2 projects), Madison (3 projects), Mahoning (3 projects), Meigs (2 projects), Mercer, Miami (2 projects), Montgomery (2 projects), Morgan (2 projects), Muskingum, Ottawa, Perry (3 projects), Pickaway (2 projects), Pike, Portage (5 projects), Richland (2 projects), Ross (2 projects), Stark (5 projects), Summit (3 projects), Trumbull (3 projects), Warren (2 projects), Washington (5 projects), Wayne (5 projects), Williams, Wood (2 projects).
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epa.ohio.gov
About Ohio EPA
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.
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